Some #Republicans have accused #VOA & other publicly-funded #media outlets of being biased against *conservatives* [liars, criminals & extremists]. Last month, billionaire #ElonMusk, who is spearheading #Trump's government *downsizing* [destruction] effort, called for VOA & #RadioFreeEurope / #RadioLiberty to be shut down in a post to social media.

The Paris-based #ReportersWithoutBorders also blasted the move, w/its director general, Thibaut Bruttin, saying that it "threatens press freedom worldwide & negates 80 years of American history in supporting a free flow of #information."

The president of the #NationalPressClub in Washington, Mike Balsamo, released a statement on social media objecting to the moves at #VOA.

"For decades, #VoiceOfAmerica has delivered fact-based, independent #journalism to audiences worldwide, often in places where press freedom does not exist," Balsamo said.

The decision, he said, "undermines America's commitment to a free & independent press."

On its website, #RadioFreeEurope / #RadioLiberty notes that it has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian govt & warns readers in #Russia & Russia-occupied #Ukraine that they could "face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us."

The #USAGM also terminated funding for #RadioFreeEurope / #RadioLiberty, which broadcasts to countries in #EasternEurope, including #Russia & #Ukraine, as well as for #RadioFreeAsia, which broadcasts to #China & #NorthKorea, acc/to letters seen by Reuters.

Multiple workers at #VoiceOfAmerica, an international #media broadcaster that operates in >40 languages, shared w/Reuters an email that placed them on administrative leave w/full pay & benefits "until otherwise notified."

The emails, sent by a HR executive at the #US Agency for Global Media, the #VOA's parent agency, instructed them not to enter their work premises or access internal systems.

#Trump declined to be interviewed by the program during last year’s presidential race. In 2020, Trump…[stormed out of] an interview w/ #LesleyStahl after becoming irritated w/her questions; his campaign then posted unfiltered footage from the interview online [which just showed him acting like a spoiled petulant man-baby].

#BredanCarr has said that the #FCC would probably look into the #60Minutes interview as part of its review of the #Paramount merger.

#Trump’s demonization of the #news #media is a centerpiece of his political rise, & he has repeatedly clashed w/ 60 Minutes, which is the country’s most popular TV news show.

Shipley held a contentious meeting on Monday with scores of #opinion section staffers, who posed tough questions to the #editorial page chief, including appeals for #Bezos to address them.

As recently as last week, according to a person present, Shipley said he sought to talk Bezos out of his decision. Shipley added, “I failed.”

“I believe we face a very real threat of #autocracy in the candidacy of Donald #Trump,” Hoffman added in his letter to #Editorial Page Editor #DavidShipley, which was obtained by NPR. “I find it untenable & unconscionable that we have lost our voice."

Hoffman says he intends to remain at the paper, saying he "refuses to give up on The Post, where I have spent 42 years.

“For decades, the #WashingtonPost's editorials have been a beacon of light, signaling hope to dissidents, political prisoners & the voiceless,” Hoffman wrote in a letter Monday explaining his decision to leave the editorial board. “When victims of repression were harassed, exiled, imprisoned & murdered, we made sure the whole world knew the truth.

The other writer is David Hoffman, who accepted a #PulitzerPrize for #editorial writing on Thurs, the day before #Bezos’ decision…. Pulitzer judges recognized him “for a compelling & well-researched series on new #technologies & the tactics #authoritarian regimes use to repress #dissent in the digital age, & how they can be fought.”

The decision by #Bezos, the #billionaire founder of #Amazon, was first reported by NPR on Friday. In the days since, 2 columnists have resigned from the paper & 2 writers have stepped down from the #editorial board.

One of those #writers, Molly Roberts, warned of the possible consequences of the 11th-hour decision to stay quiet rather than publish the editorial endorsing #Harris. "#Trump is not yet a #dictator," she wrote in a stmnt. "But the quieter we are, the closer he comes."

The number of cancellations continued to grow Monday afternoon.

A corporate spokesperson declined to comment, citing The #WashingtonPost Co.'s status as a privately held company.

“It’s a colossal number,” former Post Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli told NPR. “The problem is, people don’t know why the decision was made. We basically know the decision was made but we don’t know what led to it.”

Legendary journalists #BobWoodward & #CarlBernstein slammed The #WashingtonPost Friday night in a joint statement over the newspaper’s decision not to endorse a White House candidate in 2024.

#WoodwardAndBernstein, who broke the #Watergate scandal while reporting for #WaPo issued a statement to CNN’s Brian Stelter Friday.

#democracy #FourthEstate #journalism #media #acquiescence
#HarrisWalz2024

“Under Jeff #Bezos's ownership, the #WashingtonPost's news operation has used its abundant resources to rigorously investigate the danger & damage a second #Trump presidency could cause to the future of American #democracy & that makes this decision even more surprising & disappointing, especially this late in the electoral process."

- #BobWoodward & #CarlBernstein

2/
#WoodwardAndBernstein #journalism #FourthEstate #acquiescence